President Ruto suspends ‘Cherera 4' IEBC Commissioners

The Head of State in a Gazette Notice on Friday issued the order directing that Vice Chairperson Juliana Whonge Cherera, Commissioners Francis Mathenge Wanderi, Irene Cherop Masit and Justus Abonyo Nyang’aya step down from office pending the advisory of the tribunal.

He said the decision came following a recommendation by the National Assembly that sought to oust the commissioners over their conduct during the August 9th, 2022 General Election.

“Having received and considered the petition of the National Assembly … I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, do hereby direct that Juliana Whonge Cherera,  Francis Mathenge Wanderi, Irene Cherop Masit and Justus Abonyo Nyang’aya, being members of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, be and are hereby suspended from office with immediate effect,” reads a section of the notice.

The president went on to appoint High Court judge Aggrey Muchelule as the chair of the tribunal whose members include Carolyne Kamende Daudi, Linda Gakii Kiome, Mathew Njaramba Nyabena and Col. (Rtd.) Saeed Khamis Saeed.

The joint secretaries for the tribunal will be Kibet Kirui Emmanuel and Irene Tunta Nchoe with Peter Munge Murage being the lead Counsel assisted by  Zamzam Abdi Abib.

President Ruto’s move comes a day after the National Assembly approved a report by the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) recommending the formation of a tribunal to investigate the conduct of the four commissioners.

JLAC’s chairperson George Murugara said they had enough grounds to warrant the suspension of the Commissioners.

“The petition by the Republican Liberty Party discloses serious violations of the constitution and other laws as a ground for removal of Mrs Juliana Cherera, Ms Irene Masit, Francis Wanderi and Justus Nyangaya commissioners of IEBC,” read part of the report by the committee on Friday.

“The House resolves that the petitions therein be sent to the president, that the President appoints the tribunal to deal with the matters and that the President suspends the commissioners pending determination by the tribunal."